In just about every facet of life, we compare ourselves to others. We can’t help it. Who has the fastest car? Who has the nicest watch? Whose Botox looks the most natural? It’s human nature, and it doesn’t change on the tarmac. Whether you’d like to admit it or not, you want your private aircraft to look better than anyone else’s. So, which planes stand out among the rest, and what is it that sets them apart?
Size
Unsurprisingly, the biggest, baddest airplanes get the most attention. You’ll turn a lot more heads taxiing in a Global 6000 than you will in a Citation II. Don’t forget the larger your aircraft is, the more challenging it will be to find a hangar that can accommodate it. It may end up drawing attention on the ramp overnight because it doesn’t fit in the FBO’s hangar…
Purchase Price
As is typically the case with cars, shoes, clothes, jewelry, and just about anything else we spend money on, the cost of your jet is a big factor when it comes to turning heads. A good example of this effect is Gulfstream’s G650. With a $65 million price tag pre-owned, it sits among the most expensive private jets available. It also has the longest range—able to fly close to 11 hours (or 7,000 nautical miles) without stopping.
Speed
Our culture is obsessed with speed, and has been for a long time. From the invention of the wheel to the invention of the rocket ship, the human race has spent an ungodly amount of time and money on figuring out how to go faster. That’s the whole reason the jet engine was invented in the first place, isn’t it? One jet that stands out in this regard is the Citation X+, the fastest civilian aircraft in the world at 528 knots. Equipped with wings that are swept wayyy back and a sleek, aerodynamic fuselage design, the thing just looks fast.
Wings
As is the case with the Citation X+, the wings of an aircraft can really make it stand out from the crowd. Unique features, like the Citation X’s radically swept back wings or its high performance winglets, set it apart from the rest of the aircraft on the tarmac. Another example is Piaggio’s Avanti turbo prop. It essentially has three sets of wings, including a small set on the nose of the aircraft, and another small set on its tail. The main wing is unusually narrow, and is equipped with unique, rear-facing push propellers. Whether you like the look or not, it’s undeniable that the Piaggio’s unusual look catches people’s attention—just like its designers’ other product—the Ferrari.
Engines and Propellers
Another aspect of private aircraft that gets folks talking is the engines (and the propellers, in the case of a turbo prop). You won’t find engines that make more of a visual impact than those of the Falcon 7X and the Falcon 900 series, which have a third engine that sits on top of the fuselage. This unique look gives the Falcons a beastly ramp presence, undoubtedly turning heads and starting conversations at just about any airport.
Of course, private aircraft aren’t all about social status and ego building. They’re about getting from point A to point B faster, more comfortably and more efficiently, allowing you to make connections with people, rather than commercial flights. However, when you’re spending this kind of money on something, it might as well be something you’re proud of.
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